Rear view mirror for auto bumpers

ABSTRACT

A rear bumper mounted mirror to aid in backing a vehicle from a curb into traffic, the device comprising a mirror attached to the upper end of a rod, the lower end of the rod having a clamp unit for attachment to a rear bumper of an automotive vehicle. The mirror at the upper end of the rod is pivotably adjustable and securable in a preferred adjusted position so that a motorist can either turn his head and look into the mirror or adjust a rear vision mirror of the vehicle and without turning his head thus see the rear bumper mounted mirror.

United States Patent Bolton [54] REAR VIEW MIRROR FOR AUTO BUMPERS [72]Inventor: Lawrence Bolton, Route 2, Box 63,

Cody, Wyo. 82414 [22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 114,565

521 u.s.c|'. ..350/3o7,248/2 26B, 248/466,

248/474, 248/487, 350/302 [51] Int. Cl ..B60r 1/08 [58] Field of Search..'....350/307, 288, 302; 248/474,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,075,900 4/1937 Jackson.;.;350/302 3,166,283 1/1965 Farnsworth ..350/307 x 1' [151 3,698,798[45 Oct. 17,1972

2,133,839; 10/1938 Addor .350/307x 2,529,686 11/1950 Green ..'..248/226B Primary Examiner-David Schonberg I Assistant Eiaminer-John W. LeonardA Q 157] ABSTRACT .A rear bumper'mounted mirror to aid in backing avehicle from a curb into traffic, the device comprising a mirrorattached to the upper end of a rod, the lower end of the rod having aclamp 'unit for attachment to a rear bumper of an automotive vehicle.The mirror at the upper end of the rod is pivotably adjustable andsecurable in a preferred adjusted position so that a motorist can eitherturn his head and look into the mirror or adjust a rear vision mirror ofthe vehicle and without turning his head thus see the rear bumpermounted mirror.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEnncI 17 1912 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE A.BOLTON V so that the vehicle operator can see what trafficis com-- ingand back out when all is clear.

Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a rearbumper mounted mirror which can be adjusted so that the vehicle drivercan either turn his head and look into the mirror directly or adjust-therear vision mirror of the vehicle and see the rear bumper mounted mirrorwithout turning his head.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rearbumper mounted mirror which will save a great deal of confusion andaccidents.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rearbumper mounted mirror which when mounted on the vehicle will stayaffixed, the device requiring no holes to drill for mounting, and whichwill not interfere with the raising of the trunk lid.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rearbumper mounted mirror which takes less than five minutes to mount and toadjust.

Stillanother object of the present invention is to provide a rear bumpermounted mirror which will fit any make and model of automotive vehicles.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a rear bumpermounted mirror which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture,rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study ofthefollowing specification and the accom-' panyingdrawing wherein: i v

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation view of the present invention shown mountedon a rear bumper of an automotive vehicle,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view thereof,

FlG. 3 is a schematic plan view of an automotive vehicle and showing thepresent invention in operative use, and l FIG. 4 is a side edge viewshowing how the mirror is pivotable about a pivot or fulcrum blockbetween a upper and lower bolt. I

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral representsa rear view mirror for automobile bumpers according to the presentinvention wherein there is an assembly 11 that can be readily secured toa rear bumper 12 of an automotive vehicle 13.

The assembly 11 includes a mirror 14 supported on the upper end of avertically extending rod 15, the lower end of the rod 15 beingtelescopically fitted into a tubular post 16 which at its lower end isattached to a clamp unit 17.

The mirror 14 is fitted into a frame 18 which on its rear side has anopening for threadingly engaging a bolt 19.

A slot 20 formed on the rear side of the frame 18 permits pivoting ofthe mirror so that a bolt 21 extending through the slot 20 engages anut, not seen, on the other side of the slot 20 and thereby rigidlysecures the mirror in a selected angled position.

A rib 22 serves to space the upper end of the rod 15 from a rear side ofthe frame 18. v

The lower end of the rod 15 is receivable into the upper end of atubular post 14, and is selectively adjusted and secured by means of aset screw 23.

The lower end of the post 16 is provided with a vertically extending rowof openings .24 formed on a flat .portion 25 of the post so toselectively attach an upper --unit member 26and a lower clamp member 27of the clamp unit 17. I

. The upper clamp ,member 26 includes an angle bracket 28 which isattachable by a bolt 28 receivable through one of the openings 24 andsecured by a nut 29.

The angle bracket 27 has a horizontal extension into which there isreceived a' bolt 30 fitted through a plate 31 which at one end has-ahook 32 for being fitted around an upper end of a rear bumper l2, andthe bolt '30 being securable by means of a nut 33. v 1

Thus the upper clamp member is thoroughly adjustable. The lower member27 is likewise adjustable for the bumper and includes a longitudinallyextending vertical slot 34 through which abolt 35 is fitted and into oneof the openings24 of thepost, the bolt 35 thenbeing secured by a nut 36.l The lower end of the lower clamp member 27 is provided with ahook 37that is receivable around a'lower edge of the bumper l2.

As shown in FlG. 3 of the drawing, the rear bumper mounted mirror 10 canbe used by a driver 38 turning his head'and looking directly into themirror 14, or said driver 38 may look into the conventional rear viewmirwt 39 of the vehicle 13 and from the rear view mirror 39 look to therear bumper mounted mirror 14 without thus turning his head.

Thus either method can task.

What I now claim is:

1. In a rear, bumper-mounted mirror assembly, a mirror mounted in aframe secured to a bumper-supported vertical post by two bolts passingthrough said post and into the rear of said frame, one of said boltsbeing threaded directly into said frame, the other of said bolts beingthreaded into a free-moving plate inside said frame but accessiblethrough an arcuate slot, the center of radius of said'slot being at thefirst of said bolts to permit rotation for adjustment of said mirrorabout the axis of the first of said bolts, said frame being providedwith a projecting ridge intermediate of said bolts, said ridge being apivot to permit rocking adjustment of said mirror about a horizontalaxis perpendicular to said bolt axis, said vertical post being rotatableabout its longitudinal axis for adjustment of-said mirror about avertical axis, telescoping means mounting said vertical post foradjustment of said mirror along said vertical axis, and adjustablebumper gripping means supporting said telescoping means and beingpositionable along a bumper for horizontal adjustment of said mirror.

be used in accomplishing the

1. In a rear, bumper-mounted mirror assembly, a mirror mounted in a frame secured to a bumper-supported vertical post by two bolts passing through said post and into the rear of said frame, one of said bolts being threaded directly into said frame, the other of said bolts being threaded into a free-moving plate inside said frame but accessible through an arcuate slot, the center of radius of said slot being at the first of said bolts to permit rotation for adjustment of said mirror about the axis of the first of said bolts, said frame being provided with a projecting ridge intermediate of said bolts, said ridge being a pivot to permit rocking adjustment of said mirror about a horizontal axis perpendicular to said bolt axis, said vertical post being rotatable about its longitudinal axis for adjustment of said mirror about a vertical axis, telescoping means mounting said vertical post for adjustment of said mirror along said vertical axis, and adjustable bumper gripping means supporting said telescoping means and being positionable along a bumper for horizontal adjustment of said mirror. 